Very Silly Question?~Old topic, but still of interest

Hi All, I was wondering... It is a good idea to lok for a breeder out of the paper? I saw a free to good home ad for a Yellow Labrador Retriever puppy who is only 11 weeks old. Would this be a good idea, or no? PREVOIUS POST: I know this probaly sounds silly. What supplies do I need to get before I get my Labrador Retriever puppy?

how old is your puppy? has it been house broken yet? I would have a crate ready if you are not home at all times. I think crate training a new one is best. Especially, labs love to chew things.... They are very easy to train and always willing to please. The crate will become his safe spot and he will learn to love to go in there to sleep, or if you don't want begging he can go in there. Once he is fairly well trained, you won't even have to shut the door anymore. Obedience class is a must with any new pup, lots of exercise. They love to run and play, love the water. Need lots of toys, kongs, chew bones (rubber, hard). My manager has two labs, they are great. She has them in agility, they love this stuff, great exercise for your pet as well as for you. What kind did you get? Black, yellow or chocolate? Wonderful pet.

There are lots of material things to buy before you bring your puppy home such as food/water bowls, leash, collar, etc. One of the most important things is to find a good vet. Talk to friends, relatives and neighbors who are pet owners and find out who the vet is that they take their pets to. Believe it or not there are some bad vets out there that you want to avoid. I used to take my Rottweiler to this one vet in my area who didn't care for the Rottweiler breed very much. I didn't know this when I first found this vet. They were so rude and would never take the time to really check the dog out. There were other people I knew who took their dog to this vet and stopped going there because of the problems they had too. That's why it's important to find a good vet. Good Luck :)

I just typed this before and for some reason I lost it .I feed both of my dogs Chicken Soup For The Dog Lovers Soul,adult formula . Even though Piper is 5 months old she does really well on it as well as Tigger.There are a whole lot of foods to choose from. One thing I can tell you is please try to stay away from grocery store foods .Go to places that sell premium foods . They cost more,but in the long run you'll spend less on vet bills,and you're dog will be much healthier.When I first got Tigger I use to buy Price Chopper food thinking it didn't matter. Her fur and health then and now ,omg what a difference. A little about vets that may help. Please make sure you are happy with your vet.They are in it for the love of the animals. I had one who was in it for the money,I think they got jaded along the way.Maybe at the beginning they did care. From my vet I purchased for Piper what's called a puppy package.I paid 165.00 for all of her shots,worming,exams,fecal exams,and one month of heart worm. The only thing it didn't include is her spay. She'll be getting that done in March through Friends Of Animals. It's a low cost spay which my vet participates in.I hope some of this helps.Please make sure you get your puppy all of it's shots.

One book I might recommend you read before your puppy arrives and while you're waiting to bring him/her home is from the "...for Dummies" series. I am in the process of getting a Golden Retriver and bought the "Golden Retrievers for Dummies" book. Very solid information, all about what you need and what to do with your specific breed of dog. I am sure I saw the one for Labrador Retrivers on the shelf next to where I got mine (Barnes & Noble). I also agree with the other posts about crate training and obedience training. It is like bringing a baby home from the hospital! Good luck and I hope the wait goes quickly!

if this is your first dog, no, i wouldn't get a show quality to breed. you'll need a lot of experience in your breed with raising, training, showing, illnesses, etc. before doing breeding. i'd say get a good dog to raise, and if you are interested in the future, then get with breeders to learn about it.

You'll need a few non tipping Large stainless steel bowls I repeat NON TIPPING Large container to hold dog food (big bags hanging around the house are annoying, and this way it will stay fresh longer. A garbage can would work with a lid) 6 foot lead leather(great for training) flexi lead (great for the park) Flat collar that will grow with puppy (snap buckle) treat bag (to attach to you for training purposes) Large Kong (to fill with peanut butter surprises) Large bed or mat/Blanket Crate Bag to attach to leash for poop bags indestructable toys Smokey bones (will last forever) Large baby gates Puppy shampoo/Brush

I think I will feed Chicken Soup for the Dog Loever's Soul. I have found a vet that I like a lot. I am so excited about getting my puppy, although she isn't even born yet. I have a book called Puppies for Dummies. I am going to get the booked called Larador Retrievers for Dummies. I will pick it up sometime next week. Barnes and Noble is the best. I like to shop online. I will definaley do obedience training, but I am not sure about crate training. I guess I wont get a show quality to breed. I ahven't even raised a puppy yet. Maybe one day in the future I can become a breed, if I get serious enough about the breed. I have a whole shopping list made out. I am not sure about the crate though. Thanks for all of your help and advice.